Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Heavy Rain cost $52 million but made $130 million, you do the math]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/heavy-rain-cost-52-million-but-made-130-million-you-do-the-ma/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/heavy-rain-cost-52-million-but-made-130-million-you-do-the-ma/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/heavy-rain-cost-52-million-but-made-130-million-you-do-the-ma/#comments Heavy Rain cost $52 million but made $130 million, you do the mathHeavy Rain cost developer Quantic Dream $21.8 million to make, and with Sony's marketing budget added in, production costs topped out at $52.2 million (based on a mid-range euro-dollar exchange rate of $1.31), Quantic CEO Guillaume de Fondaumiere tells Eurogamer. It was worth it in the end - Heavy Rain made Sony more than $130.6 million.

"It's very profitable," Fondaumiere says. Since there seems to be a wide discrepancy between the definition of "successful" in AAA and smaller games, it's always good to know that yes, more than $100 million is still "profitable" to some developers.

JoystiqHeavy Rain cost $52 million but made $130 million, you do the math originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 21 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costdevelopmentHeavy-Rainplaystationproduction-costps3quantic-dreamSONYSun, 21 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA discusses expected cost increase of PS4 development]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/28/ea-details-expected-cost-increase-of-playstation-4-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/28/ea-details-expected-cost-increase-of-playstation-4-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/28/ea-details-expected-cost-increase-of-playstation-4-development/#comments The per-game research and development costs associated with developing on the PlayStation 4 will likely be five to 10 percent higher than equivalent development on current generation systems, EA CFO Blake Jorgensen said during an investors conference call earlier this week.

"On any one title, it might be five to 10 percent increases in cost, but the real opportunity comes with the ability to expand what you can do in that title," Jorgensen said. "Overall you might see larger titles or larger costs because of the capability that you can deal with, but we'll also see larger revenue streams, we believe, because of the excitement around some of those big titles."

EA has yet to officially determine whether these increased production costs will translate to increased retail costs, though Jorgensen made such an eventuality sound unlikely: "Typically at the start of a cycle, you've seen the pricing raise say to $69 for a core piece of software, and then over the life of those they've stripped it down to an introduction price typically now around $59. We haven't yet set pricing on our gen four [games], but you'll probably see a similar trend to that during the start of the next cycle."

Jorgensen misspoke, according to EA, and actually meant to say that current-gen games start at $59 and are reduced to $49, and that's a trend we're likely to see continue. This aligns with SCEA CEO Jack Tretton's assertion that PS4 games will cost between $0.99 and $60.

JoystiqEA discusses expected cost increase of PS4 development originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blake-Jorgensencostdevelopment-costEAElectronic-ArtsPlayStation-4PS4research-and-developmentSonyThu, 28 Feb 2013 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Spencer: Halo 4 is Microsoft's most expensive game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/25/spencer-halo-4-is-microsofts-most-expensive-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/25/spencer-halo-4-is-microsofts-most-expensive-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/25/spencer-halo-4-is-microsofts-most-expensive-game/#comments Halo 4 is Microsoft's most expensive game everHalo 4 is the most expensive game Microsoft has ever made, Microsoft Studios head Phil Spencer tells Polygon. It is "absolutely" the most money Microsoft has ever spent developing a game, he says. "Nothing's even close."

Estimates for development costs of Halo 3 average out at $60 million, and that was including a massive marketing budget of about $30 million. Halo 3: ODST ended up bringing in more than $170 million in its first 24 hours on the market. Overall, Halo is a $3 billion franchise, Spencer says.

JoystiqSpencer: Halo 4 is Microsoft's most expensive game originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costdevelopmentdevelopment-costshalo-4marketingmicrosoftxboxThu, 25 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[3DS sold under cost since price cut, Nintendo 'hoping' to profit by March 2013]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/3ds-sold-under-cost-since-price-cut-nintendo-hoping-to-profit/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/3ds-sold-under-cost-since-price-cut-nintendo-hoping-to-profit/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/3ds-sold-under-cost-since-price-cut-nintendo-hoping-to-profit/#comments Nintendo took a big hit last year when it dropped the price of its then-nascent handheld, the 3DS, to $170 just a few months after initial launch. Such a hit, apparently, that Nintendo is selling the unit for less than it costs the company to produce, as revealed in the company's latest financial earnings. "Its hardware has been sold below cost because of its significant price cut in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012," the financial report says.

But don't count Nintendo out! The company says it "expects to cease selling it below cost by the middle of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013." Which, in normal human terms, means Nintendo expects to start making money on the console around August of this year. So, you know, if you're really trying to stick it to Nintendo, go buy the 3DS between now and August. That'll show 'em!

The 3DS currently sells for $170, down from the $250 price tag it launched with back March of 2011.

Update: We've added context from financial analyst extraordinaires Michael Pachter (of Wedbush Securities) and Jesse Divnich (of EEDAR) just below the break.

Continue reading 3DS sold under cost since price cut, Nintendo 'hoping' to profit by March 2013

Joystiq3DS sold under cost since price cut, Nintendo 'hoping' to profit by March 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dscosteedarfinancial-reportfinancialsjesse-divnichmichael-pachternintendoprofitssaleswedbushwedbush-morganwedbush-securitiesThu, 26 Apr 2012 09:50:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN breach and restoration to cost $171M, Sony estimates]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/psn-breach-and-restoration-to-cost-171m-sony-estimates/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/psn-breach-and-restoration-to-cost-171m-sony-estimates/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/psn-breach-and-restoration-to-cost-171m-sony-estimates/#comments In the lead-up to its fiscal year 2010 earnings report this Thursday, Sony today released a revised forecast -- forewarning a $3.2 billion loss (yowzah!) -- for the twelve months ending March 31, 2011. Having occurred in late April, the PlayStation Network attack and subsequent data theft and outage fall outside of that period, but the company nonetheless addressed "the impact" of the event during an investors call today, "since there have been so many media inquiries about this incident."

"As of today," said Sony, according to its call script, "our currently known associated costs for the fiscal year ending March 2012 are estimated to be approximately 14 billion yen on the consolidated operating income level." That's roughly $171 million -- a "reasonable assumption," says Sony -- that the company expects to spend throughout the current fiscal year on its "personal information theft protection program," in addition to "welcome back programs," customer support, network security "enhancements" and legal costs. Sony noted that revenue loss from the outage and recovery, which also spans its Qriocity and Sony Online Entertainment services, had been factored into the cost, as well.

"So far, we have not received any confirmed reports of customer identity theft issues, nor confirmed any misuse of credit cards from the cyber-attack," the company added. "Those are key variables, and if that changes, the costs could change."

And what about the class action suits? Sony qualifies them as "all at a preliminary stage, so we are not able to include the possible outcome of any of them in our results forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2012 at this moment."

JoystiqPSN breach and restoration to cost $171M, Sony estimates originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 May 2011 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-actioncostforecastfy-2011playstationps3psnpsn-outage-2011pspqriocitysoesonyMon, 23 May 2011 10:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony still loses about $40 on every PS3 Slim sold]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/11/sony-still-loses-about-40-on-every-ps3-slim-sold/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/11/sony-still-loses-about-40-on-every-ps3-slim-sold/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/11/sony-still-loses-about-40-on-every-ps3-slim-sold/#comments "It Only Does Everything"

Well, except make money. Three years after the launch of the original PS3, Sony has yet to profit from the hardware. It's getting close, though. The redesigned slim PlayStation 3 is smaller -- and thanks to the passage of time -- much cheaper to manufacture than the launch models, which lost Sony over $200 with each unit sold. According to iSuppli's teardown analysis, a current PS3 system costs $336.27 to make, about $500 cheaper than the first batch of consoles. With the system retailing for $300, Sony is still incurring at least a $40 loss per system, when you account for marketing and other additional costs. (This also means that Sony lost about $17.6 million over Black Friday week on PS3 hardware sales.)

The single most expensive component to the system is still Sony's proprietary Blu-ray disc drive, which is estimated to cost about $66 to make. Other components have dropped significantly in price thanks to a switch from 65nm conductors to 45nm. The end result is a far more power-efficient system that requires less power and cooling technologies. "In light of these factors, the PlayStation 3 probably is already at or near the tipping point for profitability," iSuppli's Andrew Rassweiler added. So, if for some reason you need Sony Corp to lose money, you better rush and buy a PS3 now before they make those things profitable!

[Via CNET]

JoystiqSony still loses about $40 on every PS3 Slim sold originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costhardwareisuppliplaystation-3ps3teardownFri, 11 Dec 2009 20:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Sony losing about $40 on each PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/report-sony-losing-about-40-on-each-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/report-sony-losing-about-40-on-each-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/report-sony-losing-about-40-on-each-ps3/#comments
Sony CFO Nobuyuki Oneda noted recently that the PS3's cost is still 10 percent higher than the system's price, reports Andriasang.com. With the console's price differences in each region, if Oneda is talking about Japan, that would be approximately ¥4,000 ($42). In North America the same $40 loss would also hold true.

As bad as losing money on each console manufactured sounds, it used to be worse. Just a year ago the estimate was that Sony was losing over $100 per system. Losing a couple Jacksons (four Hideyo's in Japan) per console isn't great, but it appears that Sony's costs and sales on the console are slowly finding equilibrium. Unless, of course, there's another $100 price drop in the PS3's near future.

JoystiqReport: Sony losing about $40 on each PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 May 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscostmanufacturingsonyFri, 15 May 2009 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 costs 53% less to make now than at launch]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/23/ps3-costs-53-less-to-make-now-than-at-launch/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/23/ps3-costs-53-less-to-make-now-than-at-launch/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/23/ps3-costs-53-less-to-make-now-than-at-launch/#commentsFiled under:


It's well known that Sony's latest console is a powerful, expensive piece of tech. When Sony launched the PS3, it lost over $200 on every unit sold -- in spite of its $600 price point. However, over time Sony has been able to reduce the costs of manufacturing the system, by removing PS2 compatibility and switching over to a more efficient 65-nanometer chips.

iSuppli, the company which broke down the PS3 at launch, estimated the cost of making a PS3 was more than $840. Now, they say the PS3 costs 53% less to make -- at around $445, for a system which sells at $400. Sony is still losing money on each system sold, but in a much less extraordinary way.

Not only are the individual components cheaper to make, there are simply less things inside a modern PS3. According to iSuppli, the number of parts inside a PS3 has fallen from 4,048 to only 2,820. Since launch, Sony has reworked the innards of the PS3 to include combined chips. The falling price of components also helps Sony a lot: the Cell processor cost $89 at launch, but now only costs $46 to make.

Sony should be able to break even with the PS3 starting in 2009, which makes us wonder if they'll start adopting a more aggressive price strategy late next year. We hope so -- they need a way to make themselves attractive to customers, without breaking the bank.

[Via PlayStation Forums]

JoystiqPS3 costs 53% less to make now than at launch originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costisupplips3Tue, 23 Dec 2008 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: Right price point?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/ds-daily-right-price-point/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/ds-daily-right-price-point/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/ds-daily-right-price-point/#commentsFiled under:

We've asked this question a long ways back before, but with the busy shopping season on us, and the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shenanigans coming to a close, we felt it was appropriate to ask again. What's the right price for you? Do you pick up games when they first release because you absolutely have to have them, or are you a patient consumer, waiting for that certain title to fall in price before snatching it up. What do you think is the proper entry price point for DS games? We know Square Enix likes to toss that $39.99 price tag on their new games (boo!), but usually it's $30 for non-Nintendo games. Is this the sweet spot?

JoystiqDS Daily: Right price point? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costpriceprice-pointsquare-enixTue, 02 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Point/Counterpoint: The worth of Chrono Trigger DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/point-counterpoint-the-worth-of-chrono-trigger-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/point-counterpoint-the-worth-of-chrono-trigger-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/point-counterpoint-the-worth-of-chrono-trigger-ds/#commentsFiled under:


One of the biggest titles to release on the DS this year is none other than Chrono Trigger DS. But, is it worth the $40 that Square Enix is demanding gamers cough up in order to enjoy this RPG classic on their handheld? The DS Fanboy staff has drawn a line in the sand and been split down the middle, with each side presenting a solid argument that effectively states their case. Instead of letting this get violent and taking it out into the streets, we've decided to turn to our computers and take it out into the virtual streets of the DS Fanboy blog. So, read on and then decide for yourself if Chrono Trigger DS is really worth the price of admission.



JoystiqPoint/Counterpoint: The worth of Chrono Trigger DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chrono-triggerchrono-trigger-dscostpricerpgsquare-enixFri, 08 Aug 2008 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3: Sony's $3.32 billion gift to gamers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/ps3-sonys-3-32-billion-gift-to-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/ps3-sonys-3-32-billion-gift-to-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/ps3-sonys-3-32-billion-gift-to-gamers/#commentsFiled under:

It's a well-known fact that Sony has been losing a lot of money on the PS3 this generation. Although it's the most expensive console on the market, it's also the most expensive to produce, thanks to the combination of bleeding-edge technologies, Blu-ray and the Cell processor. When the system launched in fiscal 2007, the Japanese electronics giant had to swallow a whopping cost of $2.16 billion. Fiscal 2008, however, has been much kinder to the company, with PS3 hardware costs eating up $1.16 billion, thanks to the lowered cost of manufacturing. Combined, PS3 has cost the company $3.32 billion dollars ... so far.

The astronomical figure Sony has invested into the PS3 shows its confidence in its success. However, the company did note that unless it reaches "favorable market penetration," the PS3 would have a "significant negative impact" on the company's profitability.

Software is where the company will the company will recoup costs, and with an excellent holiday lineup in store for PS3 gamers, we're sure that Sony has little to worry about for the rest of this generation. But remember, while other companies are eager to make profit off of you on day one, Sony put their necks on the line to give you a great deal on a monstrously powerful system.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqPS3: Sony's $3.32 billion gift to gamers originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costcostsps3rdsonyTue, 24 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cheaper indie Rock Band DLC raised to standard price]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/cheaper-indie-rock-band-dlc-raised-to-standard-price/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/cheaper-indie-rock-band-dlc-raised-to-standard-price/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/cheaper-indie-rock-band-dlc-raised-to-standard-price/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Update: It's been brought to our attention that Harmonix originally announced that these songs would be available "for a limited time ... at a special holiday price of $0.99." Joystiq regrets the implication that the price increase was unannounced.

Price-conscious and/or pretentious Rock Band fans were understandably giddy when Harmonix decided to release five downloadable indie tracks for the bargain price of 99 cents (or the equivalent number of Microsoft points) in late December. We hope those fans didn't procrastinate, though, because the price for all five tracks has been raised to the more conventional $1.99 as of yesterday.

While there was no indication at the outset that the lower price would be in any way temporary, (see above update) The increase has been rumored for a couple of weeks now. When Harmonix announced the Rock Band DLC program they said individual track prices would range anywhere from $0.99 to $2.99, but they also stressed that the "vast majority" of tracks would hit the $1.99 sweet spot.

Does this increase mean that future songs are less likely to be released at 99 cents? "I don't think that's necessarily what it means," said a spokesperson for MTV/Harmonix, though he added that future 99 cent releases would probably "be the same situation, with the discounted price for a limited time." We've asked for confirmation of the official policy on this score and will let you know if and when we hear back about it.

[Thanks, Keith]

JoystiqCheaper indie Rock Band DLC raised to standard price originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnewscostDLCdownloadmoneymusicpricePS3rock bandrock-bandRockBandsongsvalueXbox-360Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pachter poses Manhunt 2 costing Take-Two millions]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/pachter-poses-manhunt-2-costing-take-two-millions/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/pachter-poses-manhunt-2-costing-take-two-millions/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/pachter-poses-manhunt-2-costing-take-two-millions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Industry fortune teller, Wedbush-Morgan's Michael Pachter, says Manhunt 2's freedom of expression will cost publisher Take-Two millions -- good thing Take-Two may have gotten that GTA IV advance money! Pachter believes the game would have generated $25 million in revenues this quarter, along with another $15 million in reorders. He sees three options for Take-Two at this point:
  • Ship the game the way it is.
  • Edit the game, bringing it in line with UK morals and the ESRB's M rating criteria.
  • Cancel the game.
Pachter believes canceling isn't a reasonable outcome. The other two options leave Take-Two with either lower sales because of the AO rating and the banning, or increased development costs due to the edit. Pachter guesses that either option costs the company half their potential revenue. He also goes on to say that this incident hurts the longevity of the franchise, which is funny for those who feel Manhunt 2 came out of left field anyway. Take-Two can probably cut their marketing budget by half, look at all this yummy free advertising. We already know FOX News has a story locked and loaded for public consumption closer to the Manhunt 2's July release.

JoystiqPachter poses Manhunt 2 costing Take-Two millions originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bbfcccfccostmanhuntmanhunt2millionspachterPS2PSPtaketwoWiiWed, 20 Jun 2007 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[GameFly rate increasing by $1 due to mail and game cost]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/05/gamefly-rate-increasing-by-1-due-to-mail-and-game-cost/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/05/gamefly-rate-increasing-by-1-due-to-mail-and-game-cost/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/05/gamefly-rate-increasing-by-1-due-to-mail-and-game-cost/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

GameFly announced today that they'll be increasing their subscription fee by $1 across all plans. It was bound to happen, and after five years it isn't so bad. GameFly says the increase is due to the postal rate hike and higher cost of console games ... and we're sure the new distribution center had a little something to do with it.

A $1 hike isn't really something we can complain about, considering the service saves us, at least, $120 to $200 in game purchases per month. They've even updated the GameQ to more efficiently order your games -- and if you want to just buy, their store deals are the best. There's also a silver lining in the understandable, but still bad, news. GameFly is offering loyal customers the option to lock in discounted rates at 3, 6 and 12 month increments. That way, if you pay upfront, you can get a subscription for cheaper than what it costs now. A good deal if you know you're gonna stick with the service.

We've placed the new billing structure after the break.

Continue reading GameFly rate increasing by $1 due to mail and game cost

JoystiqGameFly rate increasing by $1 due to mail and game cost originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Jun 2007 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costDSGameCubegameflyincreasePS2PS3PSPrate hikesubscriptionWiiXboxXbox-360Tue, 05 Jun 2007 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Petition for immediate PS3 price cut]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/17/ps3-petition-for-immediate-price-cut/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/17/ps3-petition-for-immediate-price-cut/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/17/ps3-petition-for-immediate-price-cut/#commentsFiled under:

I'm all for signing petitions. I did it once to save a tree in New York. Well it just so happens we found a petition to lower the cost of the PS3. Yet, seeing as how Sony took a major hit in the pocketbook with the PS3, asking them to lower the cost via signed petition is like haggling over a $0.10 candy bar that should've cost $1.00. Some Sony executives are still quick to point out the value in their PS3 price point, so asking for a price cut now is really just wishful thinking. Perhaps if Sony has a few major hits with their upcoming software lineup, it will escalate the call for a price cut but for now, the prospect is ludicrous. The mere act reeks of self indulgence with little regard for the cold facts on Sony's manufacturing costs. The PS3 parts will get cheaper to manufacture over time but they aren't quite there yet. It just doesn't make any financial sense to lower the PS3 right now. Maybe in five months, but not now. But hey, go ahead. Sign the petition. Can't hurt, right?

[Via digg]

JoystiqPetition for immediate PS3 price cut originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 May 2007 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costpetitionThu, 17 May 2007 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jack Tretton says PS3 cost levied by abundance of planned content]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/17/jack-tretton-says-ps3-cost-levied-by-abundance-of-planned-conten/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/17/jack-tretton-says-ps3-cost-levied-by-abundance-of-planned-conten/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/17/jack-tretton-says-ps3-cost-levied-by-abundance-of-planned-conten/#comments
Jack Tretton admitted the high price point of the PS3 console can prove a worthy "challenge," but he firmly believes the content lined up will justify its cost. A quick viewing of hot titles shown at Sony Gamers Day '07 should easily solidify his claim. He also projected a boost in PS3 sales over the next few months, stemming from the upcoming releases of a few stellar triple-A titles. While no specifics were mentioned by Mr. Tretton, we've got a pretty good idea what those triple-A games might be, judging from the mass of excellent footage from titles we've seen coming from SGD '07. We're most excited about the implementation of Home and titles like Eye of Judgement, Heavenly Sword and Uncharted. After checking out all of our extensive SGD '07 coverage, what triple-A titles are you looking forward to the most?

JoystiqJack Tretton says PS3 cost levied by abundance of planned content originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 May 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costjack trettonJackTrettonsgd '07Sgd'07sony gamers daySonyGamersDaytriple-A titleTriple-aTitleThu, 17 May 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst Michael Pachter says PS3 price drop this summer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/analyst-michael-pachter-says-ps3-price-drop-this-summer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/analyst-michael-pachter-says-ps3-price-drop-this-summer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/analyst-michael-pachter-says-ps3-price-drop-this-summer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan is one hell starter of an analyst when he's saying MTV bought the wrong company or Gamestop is a good stock, but he can also admit when he's wrong -- like he did with Bully. Well, now Pachter adds his voice to the choir that a PS3 price drop is possible as early as this summer.

Speaking with GI.biz, Pachter says, "It is possible that Sony's cost of production for the PS3 has declined to the point that the company may consider a hardware price cut some time this summer, and we may see a price cut for the PS2 before the holidays."

So, now Pachter has thrown his voice into the price drop echo chamber. Estimates for a PS3 price drop range in the $100 region. It hasn't been a pretty day for Sony, so anything that could drive sales would be worth considering.

[Via PS3Fanboy]

JoystiqAnalyst Michael Pachter says PS3 price drop this summer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 May 2007 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costmanufaturingpachterplaystationpricePS2ps3sonyTue, 15 May 2007 19:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst predicts price cut for the PS3 this summer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/analyst-predicts-price-cut-for-the-ps3-this-summer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/analyst-predicts-price-cut-for-the-ps3-this-summer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/analyst-predicts-price-cut-for-the-ps3-this-summer/#comments Videogame analyst superstar Michael Pachter expects there to be a price cut for the PlayStation 3 by the end of the year, and says that it might even come as early as this summer. GI.biz quotes Pachter,

"It is possible that Sony's cost of production for the PS3 has declined to the point that the company may consider a hardware price cut some time this summer, and we may see a price cut for the PS2 before the holidays."

As long as Sony's manufacturing costs have dropped to a reasonable rate, I'd heartily encourage Sony to drop the price of the PS3 as soon as possible. It's very clear that people desperately WANT a PS3, but just can't afford it. Dropping it to $500US and then marketing the hell out of the price drop would do wonders for their sales. Just look at what a 30 dollar price drop did for the PSP.

JoystiqAnalyst predicts price cut for the PS3 this summer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 May 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costmichael pachterMichaelPachterpachterprice cutPriceCutTue, 15 May 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 price could drop $100 due to Blu-ray diode supply]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/07/ps3-price-could-drop-100-due-to-blu-ray-diode-supply/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/07/ps3-price-could-drop-100-due-to-blu-ray-diode-supply/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/07/ps3-price-could-drop-100-due-to-blu-ray-diode-supply/#commentsFiled under: ,



Hope springs again for gamers who just can't bring themselves to drop $600 on a PS3. DigiTimes reports that Sony's blue-violet laser diode manufacturing plant will increase production and this could, "according to Taiwan-based makers of game consoles and components," drop the PS3 price by $100. Now let's see if those savings are passed on to consumers. Despite what Sony says, this magical $100 reduction is being batted around due to tech upgrades in the console and other factors discussed by analysts.

The article also discusses the production cost drop of the Xbox 360. According to research firm iSuppli the cost to manufacture the Xbox 360 is now $323.30, while it profitably retails for $399. The PS3 costs $840.35 to manufacture, in its current state of production, and retails for $599. We'll have to wait to see the NPD sales data later this month to see how well the PS3 sold in April and if more fuel gets added to the price-drop fire. Although, if the PS3 had a game other than Resistance it might be selling better. Oh well, the purchase of a PS3 was an investment in the future, wasn't it? At least the PS2 is still worth every one of the 13,000 pennies it costs to purchase.

Update: DigiTimes used data from last November's iSuppli report and marked it as May data. The comparison of estimated material cost is valid for PS3 and the Xbox 360 in November of '06. Chances are production costs have declined further since. iSuppli plans to do a new cost analysis soon. [Thanks James]

JoystiqPS3 price could drop $100 due to Blu-ray diode supply originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 May 2007 20:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluraycostdiodemanufactureplaystationproductionps2ps3Mon, 07 May 2007 20:35:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP games not much more expensive than DS games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/09/psp-games-not-much-more-expensive-than-ds-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/09/psp-games-not-much-more-expensive-than-ds-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/09/psp-games-not-much-more-expensive-than-ds-games/#commentsFiled under:


Think PSP games are expensive? You'd be wrong. Things have changed greatly since the system's release more than two years ago, with the $50 price point for some UMD games a thing of the past. Curmudgeon Gamer took a look at the upcoming releases on both handhelds, and noted that only one game currently has a $50 MSRP: Oblivion. The average cost of a PSP game is $29.89, only $2 more than the DS average of $27.29. Curmudgeon Gamer has a few other interesting statistics:
  • EB Games lists 102 new games for the Nintendo DS and 94 new games for the PSP. There's no games for PSP? Incorrect.
  • The median game price for each system is $29.99
  • About 33% of all PSP games retail for under $25. (DS has about 41%.)
This doesn't come as surprising for long-time PSP fans. Hopefully, the rest of the gaming world will soon understand that although PSP games feature better graphics, they don't have to cost more.

JoystiqPSP games not much more expensive than DS games originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costcurmudgeon gamerCurmudgeonGamergamespricepspMon, 09 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How to make a better Nintendo DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/22/how-to-make-a-better-nintendo-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/22/how-to-make-a-better-nintendo-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/22/how-to-make-a-better-nintendo-ds/#commentsFiled under:

Next-Generation's Eric-Jon Rössel Waugh acknowledges that the Nintendo DS is an industry-changing system, but still sees the portable console as an "unfinished project." He wrote up a wishlist of improvements that he feels would fulfill the handheld's potential, extending its shelf-life. And while we've already seen dozens of message board topics filled with wild-eyed suggestions and what-they-should-really-do ideas in the past, Eric's revisions actually sound half-way sane.

So what are some of his seven steps for making a better Nintendo DS? Slap on some internal flash memory, paving the way for firmware updates and a Virtual Console setup for handheld games (GB/GBA/NGPC/etc.). Allow for an expandable, customizable system interface. Flesh out its WiFi support by integrating Pictochat and developing a unified online service.

They're all great recommendations, but one has to wonder how implementing those changes would affect the portable's retail price. The DS probably wouldn't have been such a success if it weren't for its impulse-buy pricing. Still, we would love to see Eric's suggestions make it into the handheld's next revision.

We're sure that our readers have their own ideas on what the next Nintendo DS should have. VoIP capabilities? A flux capacitor? Maybe just throw some Ds on it? Drop us a comment and let us know what you think would make a better Nintendo DS!

JoystiqHow to make a better Nintendo DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costdsliteimproveimprovementinterfaceinternalflashmemorynintendodsnintendodslitepictochatpricepricingrevisionsystemvirtualconsolewifiThu, 22 Mar 2007 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[How much longer can Xbox Live charge consumers?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/17/how-much-longer-can-xbox-live-charge-consumers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/17/how-much-longer-can-xbox-live-charge-consumers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/17/how-much-longer-can-xbox-live-charge-consumers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As Xbox Live Everywhere ... Live for Windows starts to bubble up as a topic of conversation, we begin to recognize the absurdity of paying for Xbox Live. Live for Windows will charge the same fees as Xbox Live, but since when did we ever have to pay for easy-to-use matchmaking service on a PC?

Australian site Screen Play asks the same question, "Microsoft has realized that most PC owners certainly won't pay for features they have become accustomed to getting for free, even with the sweeteners of a single Gamertag, Gamerscore and common Friends list. But they are still asking PC owners to pay $80 (Australian) a year just for cross-platform play and match-matching, surely the height of optimism."

Now the question becomes: How long before the console rebellion begins? The PS3 is finally getting its online act together and despite Nintendo's never ending list of online incompetence, we figure they've got to turn it around eventually. When Sony and Nintendo finally get their ducks in a beautiful binary row at no cost to the consumer -- will we really keep paying for Xbox Live?

JoystiqHow much longer can Xbox Live charge consumers? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Mar 2007 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costlive everywherexboxxbox 360xbox liveXbox-360Sat, 17 Mar 2007 11:40:00 EST<![CDATA[In Defense of the Virtual Console's pricing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/16/in-defense-of-the-virtual-consoles-pricing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/16/in-defense-of-the-virtual-consoles-pricing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/16/in-defense-of-the-virtual-consoles-pricing/#commentsFiled under:

We've surveyed your irritation with the Virtual Console's rates and even had you calculate the exact amount of Wii points you've been swindled out of so far, but VGamp's Chris Sinclair argues that the game downloads aren't expensive at all. Chris listed eleven reasons to support his claim, even admitting that he would be willing to pay more for the retro titles. While he might come across as an inflexible apologist, some of his points make sense.

According to Chris, you're getting a deal whenever you make a purchase on the Shopping Channel. For example, let's say that you put out the cash for Soldier Blade, a title that sometimes sells for $50+ on eBay. You're scoring a discount on a relatively rare game that's guaranteed to work decades from now, and you don't even have to pay for the TurboGrafx-16 console or the controllers to play it with. As an added bonus, many of these emulated games look better than they ever did before.

Alright, so we're still not entirely convinced that Altered Beast is worth the 800 Wii points Sega is asking for, but we can see where Chris is going with this. What do you think? Does the pricing seem justified after considering his points, or do you still feel like you're being fleeced?

JoystiqIn Defense of the Virtual Console's pricing originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alteredbeastcostemulationgenesisn64nintendowiipricingromsegashoppingchannelsnessoldierbladetg16turbografx16vcvirtualconsolewiiwiipointsFri, 16 Mar 2007 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtual Console cost calculator]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/15/virtual-console-cost-calculator/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/15/virtual-console-cost-calculator/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/15/virtual-console-cost-calculator/#commentsAccording to the poll results we posted earlier today, 70% of our readers think Nintendo's Virtual Console pricing is way too expensive. If you're anything like us, however, you didn't let that get in the way of purchasing a few retro games anyway. Gunstar Heroes? The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past? Overpriced or not, how are we supposed to pass on that?

We spotted an online calculator that adds up the total amount of Wii points you've spent or can expect to spend on the current Virtual Console lineup (Sorry, North American releases only!). If you have some Wii points saved up, the application will even display how much more points you will have left or will need to buy.

So how much has Nintendo robbed you of so far? How many more Wii points will you have to shell out in order to complete your dream collection? Drop a line in our comments and let us know!

[Via The Tanooki]

JoystiqVirtual Console cost calculator originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>calculatorcostnintendowiipricepricingvcvirtualconsolewiiwiipointsThu, 15 Mar 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Adding up the costs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/27/wii-warm-up-adding-up-the-costs/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/27/wii-warm-up-adding-up-the-costs/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/27/wii-warm-up-adding-up-the-costs/#commentsFiled under:

A reader dropped us a note about the money he'd thus far poured into the Wii, and at first our jaws dropped at the amount ... and then we started adding up our own costs, and boy weren't we red-faced. Let's look at some of the basic items:

Console: $250
Wii Remote: $40 (each)
Nunchuk: $20 (each)
Games: $50 (each)
Classic controller: $20 (each)
Component cables: $30

So let's assume that we're Little Lisha Fangirl, and we head out to get hooked up with the Wii goodness. We buy a console, one extra controller and nunchuk, a couple of classic controllers, and two games, as well as component cables. With tax, we're probably looking at a little over $500. Not too bad; after all, you're not buying extra shinyz for a PS3 or 360 plus the console for that ... you're probably not even getting a PS3 by itself for that. But then you start laying in a few extras. Third and fourth controller, say. A couple of those nifty controller gloves so you don't have to play guess-which-remote-is-player-one. And you have to have some Wii points, so you break out the credit card and load up. You pick up an SD card. And suddenly your reasonable console, when you add in a couple more games, is slouching toward a cool grand.

Ouch. We're even the inexpensive guys. How do you feel about the costs of gaming these days? It seems there are more games around than we could possibly buy and play and grok in fullness, but we do what we can. Still, do you ever feel overwhelmed by the hidden costs of gaming? That's today's question.

[Thanks, RD!]

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Adding up the costs originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Jan 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriescostNintendoWiiwwuSat, 27 Jan 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii cost broken down]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/14/wii-cost-broken-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/14/wii-cost-broken-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/14/wii-cost-broken-down/#commentsFiled under:

A poster by the name of DefectiveReject over at NeoGAF clues us all in to an interesting factoid: the Wii costs $158 bills to manufacture, not including the Wiimote and nunchuk). These guys take the spotlight to the console, shining its bright light into the various nooks and crannies of the system to find the total value of each of its parts, finally coming up with cost calculations for each component. Turns out, according to their findings, Nintendo is making around $40 bucks a console. Way to go Nintendo ...
  • Graphics chip: $29.60
  • CPU: $13.00
  • DRAM: $7.80
  • Optical disk drive: $31.00
  • Power supply: $11.30
  • Manufacturing cost: $19.50
  • Cost total: $158.30
  • Wholesale price: $195.99

[Via NeoGAF]

JoystiqWii cost broken down originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Dec 2006 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costnintendonintendowiiwiiwiicostThu, 14 Dec 2006 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Montreal boss calls development cost "crazy"]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/02/ea-montreal-boss-calls-development-cost-crazy/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/02/ea-montreal-boss-calls-development-cost-crazy/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/02/ea-montreal-boss-calls-development-cost-crazy/#commentsFiled under:

Maybe this explains why EA is laying on the microtransactions pretty thick. According to Alain Tascan, general manager of EA Montreal, it's "crazy" how much game development costs and new business models must be explored. Tascan is the same executive who said Gears of War lacked innovation -- even though he admitted never playing the game.

In an interview with GI.biz, Tascan says, "I'm not sure that the model we have here will be the model in 15 years, and that the EA you know today will be the EA you know then." He doesn't feel that companies like EA are driving big game budgets, saying other companies are spending more and EA is, "Just here to deliver the show."

Apparently things are all puppies and sunshine up at EA Montreal. Tascan goes on to say that they have small 35 to 85 member teams there and "small is beautiful." He expresses big budgets don't mean smaller companies are left struggling, "I think there are other ways to consume entertainment today - mobile phones, casual games... Games that take a shorter amount of your time are something where a smaller company can really have fun." In other words, leave the huge budget console games to the big boys and you little guys go have fun and focus on those cell phone and casual things. Wait, so "small is beautiful," but EA will continue to make the big budget games that require big teams to go with big budgets -- interesting, could somebody start the countdown before we get another EA workplace conditions story? There's something strange in the EA water lately and we still can't tell if gamers will benefit.

JoystiqEA Montreal boss calls development cost "crazy" originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Dec 2006 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscostdevelopmentEAElectronic-ArtsSat, 02 Dec 2006 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The interactive Wii cost calculator [update 2]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/21/the-interactive-wii-cost-calculator/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/21/the-interactive-wii-cost-calculator/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/21/the-interactive-wii-cost-calculator/#commentsFiled under:

Math is fun
Let's face it: the true "price" of the Wii is nowhere close to two hundred and fifty dollars. It varies wildly from person to person, dependent on launch titles, extra controllers, and virtual console points. That's why some clever folks at N-sider.com have put together a lovely calculator for you, to determine how much you'll be spending come November. It gives accurate descriptions of all confirmed launch titles, and takes into account just about everything you could possibly desire ... except, unfortunately, an SD card. Still, with the limited number of Virtual Console titles at launch, the chances that you'll be needing a additional storage immediately are pretty slim. Check below for the entire Wii Fanboy staff's expected costs!

Jason Wishnov - $476.94
Extra controller w/nunchuk, classic controller
Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
2000 Virtual Console points

David Hinkle - $667.70
Extra controller w/nunchuk
Elebits, Excite Truck, Rayman Raving Rabbids, Red Steel, Zelda: Twilight Princess, Trauma Center: Second Opinion
2000 Virtual Console points

Alisha Karabinus - $635.90
Extra controller w/nunchuk, classic controller
Excite Truck, Red Steel, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz, Trauma Center: Second Opinion, Zelda: Twilight Princess
2000 Virtual Console points

Nikki Inderlied - $558.99
Extra controller w/nunchuk, classic controller
Zelda: Twilight Princess, Trauma Center: Second Opinion, Red Steel, Rayman Raving Rabbids
500 Virtual Console points

What are you guys spending? Let us know!

[Update 1: Added in Alisha's projected costs.]

[Update 2: Added in Nikki's projected costs.]

JoystiqThe interactive Wii cost calculator [update 2] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Sep 2006 17:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CalculatorControllerCostDetailsExtraGamesLaunchPointsVirtual ConsoleVirtualConsoleThu, 21 Sep 2006 17:09:00 EST<![CDATA[European PS2 price drop and pretty new pink model [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/21/european-ps2-price-drop-and-pretty-new-pink-model/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/21/european-ps2-price-drop-and-pretty-new-pink-model/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/21/european-ps2-price-drop-and-pretty-new-pink-model/#commentsFiled under: ,

Following April's North American PS2 price drop, Sony has announced a European price drop for their top-selling console juggernaut. The formerly €149.99 and £104.99 prices will be lowered to €129.99 and £94.99 respectively, still a good deal more expensive than the $130 US asking price. They've also lowered the price of the Memory Card to €19.99. While this isn't quite the budget pricing we imagine the non-PS2-owner is waiting for, Sony has readied another flank in their assault on these stubborn holdouts.

The formula has worked disturbingly well for companies like Nintendo and Apple: a fresh coat of paint and you've opened up a whole new customer base. The new Pink PlayStation 2 will debut at the Leipzig Games Convention in Germany, August 23-27th. This sexy little thing is going out dancing with a pair of Dual Shock controllers and a Memory Card, and they're all wearing their prettiest matching pink outfits. And, UK-only, they'll be joining up with SingStar Pop at the karaoke club! Just how much will this little bundle of fun cost? €159.99 or £129.99 in UK (bundled with SingStar Pop). Seriously, resistance is futile Europe.

[Update: These things come in threes. It looks like the PS2 isn't the only console getting the pink treatment. Those rumors (from last year!) may have been premature, but Sony is finally making a pink PSP! Joy! It will be available Oct. 27th in Europe only for €229, or £169. They're also employing colorfully-named popstress P!nk to pimp their pink PSPs. We can think of a lot of things we'd rather have Sony invest their efforts in PSP-wise than a pink version. Just saying.]

Read - SCEE Announces Introduction of Pink PS2
Read - SCEE Announces New Price for PS2
Read - A pink PSP to match the PS2

Continue reading European PS2 price drop and pretty new pink model [update 1]

JoystiqEuropean PS2 price drop and pretty new pink model [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Aug 2006 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>colorsCostLeipzigNew modelNewModelPinkPrice reductionPriceReductionPS2SCEESony-Computer-Entertainment-EuropeMon, 21 Aug 2006 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP games surprisingly cheap to make]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/14/psp-games-surprisingly-cheap-to-make/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/14/psp-games-surprisingly-cheap-to-make/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/14/psp-games-surprisingly-cheap-to-make/#commentsFiled under:

It should come as no surprise that the Japanese market is completed dominated by handhelds right now. Thanks to both the DS and the PSP, the handheld sector has grown to control 63.2 percent of the entire video game market there. Sales of both hardware and software rose 13.9% in 2005, as consumers just can't get enough gaming on the go. To make all of you fanboys happy, I should also give you some numbers you'll throw at a DS fanboy's face: According to Gamespot, Nintendo exported 7.34 million DS systems while Sony exported 11.36 million PSPs in 2005.

Also, more numbers you'll want to use in your online fury against DS owners involve how cheap PSP games are to make. The claims that it costs as much as a PS2 game are just wrong. The average cost to develop on PlayStation 2 is 139 million yen ($1.2 million) a game. A PSP game costs on average 63 million yen ($541,000). Sure, that's still more than developing a Nintendo DS game, which costs an average of 39.8 million yen ($342,000). But when you consider how much more technology goes into a PSP game, it's still not too expensive at all.

JoystiqPSP games surprisingly cheap to make originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Aug 2006 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costdevelopmentdspspMon, 14 Aug 2006 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation 3 game prices revealed from Best Buy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/19/playstation-3-game-prices-revealed-from-best-buy/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/19/playstation-3-game-prices-revealed-from-best-buy/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/19/playstation-3-game-prices-revealed-from-best-buy/#commentsFiled under:

That's right boys and girls, Best Buy Canada is touting bold game prices on their website. For the ripe price of $74.99, these jokers don't come cheap. But if you thought the next-generation of gaming was going to cost you anything less than an arm or a leg, you might as well dust off your cartridges.

Does this really come as a surprise though? With a console as steep as the PlayStation 3, it'd be naive to think the games would be bargain-priced. As much as I'd like to say "Keep your eyes out for an amended page" or be wary of the current costs, we may be kidding ourselves thinking that next-gen games are going to be anything cheaper than 75 bucks a pop.

JoystiqPlayStation 3 game prices revealed from Best Buy originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Jul 2006 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best buycanadacostgameplaystationpricepricesps3sonytitleWed, 19 Jul 2006 08:15:00 EST<![CDATA[The price ceiling for PS3 games is under construction]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/28/the-price-ceiling-is-under-construction-for-ps3-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/28/the-price-ceiling-is-under-construction-for-ps3-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/28/the-price-ceiling-is-under-construction-for-ps3-games/#commentsFiled under: ,

Nothing in life is free and if 'Fun' had a price, then recent videogames are out to bankrupt you. I mean what with the cheaper medium of CDs and all, who can blame them for charging upwards of 60 bucks for a single game? Okay, sarcasm aside, there's probably a small army of people out there who are ready to hear something official about the pricing of the PlayStation 3's titles.

Our favorite talking bobble head Kaz Hirai is at the presses again spreading the gospel. This time he's finally said something about the game pricing of the next-gen console. "I think it would be a bit of a stretch to think that we could suddenly turn around and say 'PS3 games now $99.99,'" he said to PSM. "So, if it becomes a bit higher than fifty-nine bucks don't ding me, but, again, as I said, I don't expect it to be a hundred bucks."

So it's a "stretch", but we shouldn't expect a three-figure price point for those nifty new Blu-ray games... yet. Actually when you get down to it, what he's saying is that the titles won't be less than $59 or more than $100, while keeping their distance from the latter. They've got such an uphill battle with just the price of the console that I really don't think Sony would have the cojones to push the games to, say, $69.99 or more. Then again, Sony likes to surprise us. But seriously, how much are YOU willing to pay for next-gen games?

JoystiqThe price ceiling for PS3 games is under construction originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Jun 2006 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costgameshiraikazplaystationpriceps3sonytitletitlesWed, 28 Jun 2006 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 worth its weight in Uranium]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/09/ps3-worth-its-weight-in-uranium/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/09/ps3-worth-its-weight-in-uranium/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/09/ps3-worth-its-weight-in-uranium/#commentsFiled under:

When hordes of gamers stand in line at a press conference, eagerly awaiting a disgruntled security guard to open the doors and let them storm through, the conversations one can overhear seem to fluctuate wildly between intriguing and painfully moronic. One of these discussions, which nestles snugly between those two extremes, was regarding the PS3's rather hefty cost. It didn't take long for someone to make the joke that the PS3 is just about worth its weight in gold. The remarks got a few laughs, despite the fact that current gold prices don't quite match up to such a claim.

The $599 PS3 is, however, worth its weight in Uranium. The radioactive substance so popular amongst terrorists is expected to hit $54 a pound this year, meaning that if you choose to buy 11 pounds of Uranium (and why wouldn't you?), you'll actually end up saving $5. Cutting-edge console and Blu-Ray player, or a vast quantity of apocalyptic material? Not an easy decision to make, but either investment will likely end up blowing you away (sorry).

JoystiqPS3 worth its weight in Uranium originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 May 2006 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CostE32006PricePS3Tue, 09 May 2006 22:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Petition against XBLM prices]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/06/petition-against-xblm-prices/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/06/petition-against-xblm-prices/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/06/petition-against-xblm-prices/#commentsFiled under:


Another day, another online petition yelling into the internet void. This one is complaining about the "ridiculous prices" on Xbox Live Marketplace, and seems inspired primarily by the Oblivion horse armor currently fetching almost as much as a Starbucks Latte. It has 13 signatures so far.

[Thanks Corey]

JoystiqPetition against XBLM prices originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Apr 2006 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costmoneypricingThu, 06 Apr 2006 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Engineering the DS Lite: 2 Nintendo hardware vets speak]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/05/engineering-the-ds-lite-2-nintendo-hardware-vets-speak/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/05/engineering-the-ds-lite-2-nintendo-hardware-vets-speak/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/05/engineering-the-ds-lite-2-nintendo-hardware-vets-speak/#commentsFiled under: , ,

White DS Lite open and closed side-by-sideEver wonder what decisions go into a hardware redesign? Thanks to the latest edition of Nintendo's Japanese online mag, we finally get a portable peek into the DS Lite.

Two Nintendo engineers who worked on the cuter DS sibling reveal how they pulled off the svelte new look while maintaining things like usability, battery life, and cost.

Who knew that the new stylus was made "longer and wider to accommodate older users" (the Brain Age demographic who'd taken such a shine to the now shinier little system)? Durable, reliable hardware: it's what Nintendo does best. Let's hope they continue that trend with the Lite, as well as whatever other slicker iterations of the handheld that we're tempted to purchase -- or repurchase -- in the future.

[Thanks, Princess Zelda; also via DS Fanboy]

See also:

JoystiqEngineering the DS Lite: 2 Nintendo hardware vets speak originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Apr 2006 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battery lifeBatteryLifeBrain AgeBrainAgecostdecisiondecisionsdemographicDSDS LiteDS siblingDsLiteDsSiblingdurableengineerengineeringengineershardwareiterationiterationsJapaneseNintendoolder usersOlderUsersonline magonline magazineOnlineMagOnlineMagazinepurchaseredesignreliablerepurchaseshineshiniershinyslickslickerstylussvelteusabilityvetvetsWed, 05 Apr 2006 12:57:00 EST